New Shoes !!!

So I start out the week walking 2.0 miles in 42minutes.. don't ask me if that's fast or not cause I have no idea..lol My knees were abit sore so I decided not to put off getting a new pair of shoes any longer. So off to the running room I go to find a new pair of shoes. After trying on about 8 different pairs of shoes, I finally found the perfect pair. I didn't realize how bad my old shoes were until I walked with the new ones...holy moly. And the best part..My new shoes can walk faster than the old ones..LOL With my new shoes I can walk 2.0 miles in 31 minutes (and I even got the odd 1 minute run in there..lol) Now I'm even more excited my new shoes can run too. :-)

Speaking about shoes...Get out your dancing shoes !!!!
The Blues Brothers - Live in Concert!

Pull out that sharp suit and those shades and join us on June 12, 2009 for an evening you won’t soon forget! The Arthritis Society is thrilled to present “The Blues Brothers” at the Big Sky Lounge at the Stampede Casino in Calgary!
$100 gets you in the door, an exquisite dinner and all the rockin’, swinging, tail-feather shakin’ times you can handle. Don’t forget your dancing shoes!

Let me know if you would like tickets. Part of the money from the tickets I sell will go towards my fundraising goal. Support a great cause and have a great evening out all at the same time !!!

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone !!!

Silent Auction Items

There are 2 silent auctions, the first one is this Sat. May 31 at Spirit Fitness, 7425 Macleod Tr. S.W.if you are interested in stopping in to bid on any of the items.

There are 30+ handmade cards in each box. And the journal book is in a basket with a tea diffuser, tea, cookies, handmade journal and a handmade notebox.

There is also another one the following Friday at a restaurant downtown Calgary, and I will get the address for that one as well.

Scrapbooking for my cause !!

So it's been a fun couple of weeks of scrapbooking . And you wonder what does scrapbooking have to do with my journey?!? Well there is a silent auction coming up that is being sponsored by a fitness club here in Calgary and we (participants in joint in motion) can donate items to be auctioned off and the money raised for the items I donate, goes directly towards my fundraising goal. So I thought why not incorporate my love for scrapbooking into my journey. So I handmade some awesome journal notebooks and then while scrapbooking with my friends I had yet another great idea. :-) I asked everyone if they would each make a handmade greeting card and I would would put together a box of cards for the auction as well. I was so excited when I recieved 100 cards, so this week I will be assembling the cards into gift boxes to auction off. I thank everyone who made these cards in support of my journey, it was a great way to show your support and I can't wait to put them in the auction. I also received almost $200 in scrapbooking supplies from cropandcruise.com that will be donated as a silent auction item as well.
I will post pictures of the items going into the auction and those of you that expressed interest in bidding can do so. Please watch for information on when and where you can bid.
I also met so many fellow scrapbookers that are challenged with arthritis as well and it was great to hear their stories and know that I am doing this to make a difference. I even met a lady who's daughter was a part of the joints in motion's team years ago and did her marathon in switzerland on behalf of your mom who has arthritis.
So it's been a great couple of weeks and I appreciate all the donations and emails of support.
My goal is to reach 20% of my fundraising goal by the end of May !!!

Enjoy your day everyone !!!!

Wow !

Trying to figure out a start point and it appears I need to learn to run before I can train for a 1/2 marathon..lol For those of you that know me...well you know
that I have no patience and I really just want to be able to run a 1/2 marathon by next weekend..lol How is that for high expectations for myself..lol
So I have had a couple of recommendations from friends on learning to run programs and that is where I am going to start. The funny thing is, the programs all start with walking, oiii here we go again, now I have to learn to walk before I can learn to run. Good news I don't have to start right from the beginning cause guess what..I at least know who to walk. So it all begins with learning to walk faster (a brisk walk and power walking). So here we go !!!

The other "wow" part of this week is the kickstart to the fundraising I need to do for the Arthritis Society. Thank you so much to those that have already donated, you have helped me surpass the 10% mark and it's an awesome feeling.

Also thank you for the emails of encouragement, they always brighten my day. :-)

Well I'm off to go for a WALK...I'll let you know when I hit the RUNNING stage..lol

Have a great Day !!!

Getting Started !

Wow, I can't even begin to explain the mixed emotions I am feeling.I started the process about 3 weeks ago gathering information, getting my many questions answered and completing the registration forms. I love to do new things and take on challenges, so I'm excited as things fall into place and the journey begins. But all at the same time I was feeling nervous about telling family and friends, sending out the first emails and setting up my homepage for sponsorship. But it's done now and I'm feeling alittle relieved about that part. There have been a few tears already..lol happy tears of course, as the first donations came into my website, and made things that much more real. Thank you:-)

It is going to be a challenging 11 months of up and downs, hard work and training, I'm excited that you want to be a part of my support team . Wiith your support and encouragement I know I can do this !I want to inspire those around me that are faced with challenges of their own. I want to show that a positive attitude, determination and hard work can make anything possible.

The most important part of Joints in Motion is the fundraising that we do for the Arthritis society. So I'm asking you to please click on the link at the bottom of my blog page and sponsor me with you tax deductible donation to the arthritis society and together we can make difference.

My Story

I am 37 years old and was faced with dealing with arthritis at the beginning of my adult life. Over the years I have developed 3 types of arthritis which have left me with physical and mental challenges.
It started in my sacroiliac joints, which I later learned was what they call Ankylosing spondylitis. A few years I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and it's only been in the last 5 years the Dr discovered the osteoarthritis in my left hip which is almost to the point of needing a replacement.
Fortunately I have a wonderful family and great friends that have supported me along the way. My husband and I have 3 young, adorable, energetic children that we have chosen to be a part of our lives forever through adoption. They are my life and inspiration.
I have spent the last 17 years finding ways of dealing with the pain and challenges of arthritis and that is why I have chosen to become a part of the Joints in Motion team to give back to an amazing cause and fight arthritis. I have determination and inspiration I want to share with other people facing similar challenges.
Thanks to the arthritis society and their continued research of new medicines, information and support, I have been able to overcome so many of my challenges. This journey will allow me the opportunity to prove anything is possible to myself and those around me. I want to be able to say "I trained and I completed a half marathon while dealing with the effects of arthritis."

I have the determination to make this happen but I wouldn't be able to do it without you. So join
me, along with your family and friends, in my journey in the fight against arthritis.